Wayne Rooney says England must learn to close out games better but stays upbeat over World Cup hopes

Wayne Rooney has admitted that England were taught a lesson during an abject
second half against Montenegro on Tuesday night and believes that World Cup
qualification is now likely to go down the final Group H match against
Poland in October.

The Manchester United forward had headed England into a sixth-minute lead in Podgorica but, after an excellent first-half display, the team lost their momentum and succumbed to a deserved second-half equaliser.

England also conceded a lead in their previous away qualifier against Poland, as well as the Euro 2012 fixture against Montenegro in 2011, and Rooney admitted that the team must learn from those experiences.

“It was a lesson for us second half – we need to learn how to see out these games better,” he said. “Thankfully three of the remaining games are at home. It’s not the worst result. I think you learn all the time. It’s a hostile place to play. The pitch isn’t the best and everything is not going in your favour sometimes and you have to just try and deal with that and grind out a result.”

Asked if the group would go down to the final match, he said: “It probably will. It’s an interesting group but if we win our games we’re through. We’ve still got a great chance of qualification.”

Rooney had been the focus during the build-up to the match on Tuesday after he was sent off on his previous trip to Podgorica but the United forward responded by equalling Michael Owen’s England record for competitive international goals.

Having scored in his past five internationals, Rooney believes that he is in the best form of his England career. “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” Rooney said. “I’ve been ­playing well for a while now. I’m enjoying my football. It’s been probably my best run since I’ve been ­playing for England.”

Chris Smalling, Rooney’s United team-mate, said that the draw felt like a defeat and described the post-match mood as “pretty flat”. But Steven Gerrard was more optimistic, reflecting on the maturity Rooney showed on Tuesday.

“Wayne is a fantastic player and a great goalscorer. If the lads in the team can ­create the service for Wayne, we know he will score goals,” Gerrard said.